CAW

The personal is political.
Committee for Asian Women Executive Committee and Secretariat
2009

Van Morrison Afternoon

Laundry goes in the tub with soap and suds

Heating up yesterday’s food on the stove

Sighing, got to really scrub the floor

Or fix the picture frames by the door

Had a 3-hour night’s sleep on a high-noon Saturday

Busy body making sure of a full day’s chore

Somewhere in the room there’s a film screen showing

That scene last night when I left, of you and her dancing

Counting my money, changing the lights

Intermittent internet signals keeping me online

Somewhere at the back of my mind

You are holding her hand instead of mine

The fruit truck has come by but there are still apples in my fridge

Maybe tomorrow I can grab the usual treats

Thinking I should be having a telephone

Somewhere some shadow wonders where you went home

There’s good music playing tonight, friends invite me to come and delight

They are the ladies’ lonely hearts club out to have a good time

I prefer to watch my videos alone to help me sleep

Whispers gossiping you’re probably giving her a kiss

Happy Birthday

There is your angel, it said to me
And I saw your shadow past the door
From your breath lilies fell to pad your steps
Your eyes gazed at me and I looked at the floor

I have no angel I replied to no one in particular
As though it is the most normal thing to do
Certain that the daily demons that surround my life
Would shield me from whatever it is coming from you

“He comes from paradise” once again it spoke
Taunting me to argue “there is no such thing”
I kept my silence, and, in case you should look
whispered softly: “what does he bring?”

Just as you smiled, all is understood
This angel from paradise is only a man
Come to play with the mortals on land
So I stepped aside to let you through